Khan makes pledge to review London’s cannabis legislation
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan may look at legalising cannabis in the capital if he is re-elected next month.
The Labour incumbent has pledged to establish a commission to examine drug use and, according to a source, he would be willing to consider supporting changes to the legal status of cannabis if that is the view of the group of independent experts.
Downing Street, however, insisted that Boris Johnson has ‘absolutely no intention of legalising cannabis’ and insisted that policy on controlled drugs was a matter for central government.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also said he did not support decriminalising the possession of cannabis.
Mr Khan’s commission would build on research assessing how effective cannabis enforcement is at tackling London’s violence.
‘It’s time for fresh ideas about how to reduce the harm drugs and drugrelated crimes cause to individuals, families and communities,’ he said.
‘The illegal drugs trade causes huge
damage to our society – driving serious and violent crime, damaging people’s health and criminalising too many young people.
‘That’s why, if I’m re-elected, I will establish a new London Drugs Commission comprised of independent experts to examine the latest evidence from around the world.’
These experts, from fields including criminal justice, community relations and public health, would examine evidence on the harm of drugs, support services and prevention and the effectiveness of current laws as well as tackling the root causes of crime.
Mr Khan was launching his manifesto ahead of the May 6 election at a community play centre in north London, where he was joined by shadow business secretary Ed Miliband.
The mayor also accused the Conservatives of ‘London bashing’ and ‘spreading lies’ about the city.
Mr Khan said some Tories give the impression of ‘hating London’.
Warning of a growing anti-London sentiment across the country he said: ‘The dangerous game of bashing London has to stop.
‘Otherwise, we’ll all be left worse off and the social fabric of the country will be stretched to breaking point.’